Dental care more than a quarter of farmer and rancher health care costs

Updated: 5/1/2009 9:00:36 AM

Family farm and ranch operators in the Great Plains states spend on average $873 annually on dental care, more than they spend on prescription drugs and constituting 27 percent of families' overall out-of-pocket health care costs, according to a new report issued by The Access Project and Brandeis University.

"While this report focuses on the dental costs for family farmers and ranchers, we believe their situation is typical of many self-employed and small business people," said Carol Pryor, lead author of the report and Policy Director at The Access Project. She pointed out that while a lot of attention has been paid to the high cost of prescription drugs, the survey showed the average cost of dental health can be even more expensive.

The report found that having dental insurance did not result in serious cost reduction, but did make the cost of dental care more predictable and less likely to contribute to people's financial problems. Those with dental insurance also were less likely to delay dental care.

Families who are searching for ways to save money on dental care may want to consider discount dental plans. These plans, an alternative to dental insurance, offer discounts of 10 to 60 percent on most dental procedures.

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Savings plans are NOT insurance and the savings will vary by provider, plan and
zip code. These plans are not considered to be qualified health plans under the
Affordable Care Act. Please consult with the respective plan detail page for additional
plan terms. The discounts are available through participating healthcare providers
only. To check that your provider participates, visit our website or call us. Since
there is no paperwork or reimbursement, you must pay for the service at the time
it’s provided. You will receive the discount off the provider’s usual and customary
fees when you pay. We encourage you to check with your participating provider prior
to beginning treatment.